Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Yannick Veilleux scored 21 goals in 43 games for the Saint-Eustache midget AAA team and was selected by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 1st round (2nd overall) of the 2009 QMJHL Draft.

2009-10: His QMJHL rookie season saw him suit up for 55 of the Shawinigan Cataractes’ games, notching 3 goals and 6 assists. He was held scoreless in six playoff games.

2010-11: Veilleux appeared in all 68 regular season games for Shawinigan contributing 19 goals and 29 assists. In the playoffs he managed to post 2 goals and 5 assists over 12 games.

2011-12: Veilleux returned to Shawinigan after attending Blues training camp and provided both scoring and grit for the Cataractes in his third junior season. He was the third-leading scorer for Shawinigan behind high profile prospects Anton Zlobin (Pittsburgh) and Michael Chaput (Columbus). Veilleux scored 27 goals with 31 assists in 59 games and was plus-21 with 69 penalty minutes. Shawinigan finished with the QMJHL’s second best record. The Cataractes lost in the second round of the league playoffs but rebounded to win the Memorial Cup as the host team. Veilleux scored 5 goals with 6 assists and was plus-5 with 17 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games. In six Memorial Cup games he was an even plus/minus with 2 goals and 6 penalty minutes.

2012-13: Veilleux signed a three-year entry-level contract with St. Louis in March 2013 and made his pro hockey debut in April — joining St. Louis AHL affiliate Peoria after Moncton was eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs. He scored 2 goals with 1 assist and was minus-1 in eight games with the Rivermen, who missed the AHL playoffs. Obtained over the summer by Moncton as part of the trade that sent defenseman Brandon Gormley (Phoenix) to Shawinigan, Veilleux scored 34 goals with 39 assists and was plus-15 with 102 penalty minutes in 65 games. The Wildcats were second in the Maritimes Division behind Memorial Cup champion Halifax. Veilleux played in 4 of 5 games during the playoff series with Victoriaville — serving a one-game suspension — and was minus-2 with 2 goals and 10 penalty minutes.

2013-14: Veilleux appeared in four AHL games with St. Louis affiliate Chicago in his first pro season; spending the year with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings. He had 1 assist and was an even plus/minus with 5 penalty minutes with the Wolves. Veilleux scored 16 goals with 23 assists in 62 regular season games for Kalamazoo and was plus-16 with 65 penalty minutes. The Wings finished first in the North Division and lost to Greenville in a first round series. Veilleux scored 3 goals and was minus-2 with 4 penalty minutes in six playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Veilleux is a strong skater with good balance and has the physicality to become a possible power forward. He thrives down low, along the boards and in front of the oppositions net while having good hands and a powerful shot to take advantage of his scoring chances. The big winger needs to improve his defensive game, shoot the puck more often and play with more consistency every game.

Future

Veilleux attended training camp with the Blues before being assigned to AHL affiliate Chicago to start the 2014-15 season. Now in the second year of his original three-year contract, he is skating in a lower line role with the Wolves. While it is not likely he will match the offensive numbers he put up in juniors he continues to make progress. Long-term he projects as a two-way forward but with the depth of the Blues organization he may need to head elsewhere or to Europe to see an increased role.